Split ground planes

I have also noticed Layers 2-15 are inner layers but not available.

I can access them or rename them, yet they are signal layers and not viewable from the Layer menu

I think you have a little bit more thinking about.

It's better, you use even number of sides. e.g. 2,4,6,8...

because they are matched in mirrors together.

1 - 16; or  1 - 2, 3 - 4, .... 15 - 16; .....

Then you can better use some layer as a split gnd plane.

In the globals you can specify, which layer will be a power layer.

This layer can be a split power plane.

If you want grounding a signal layer, this can be make by drawing a

polygon around the board an then use "NAME" to connect to GND-Signal.

Then click the button "Ratsnest" so then all signal wires will be

isolate into the GND-polygon. e.g. isolate > 0,5mm, or so -> voltage!

This looks like this:

After them, if you have to do something, you can do, but you have to click the button "Ratsnest".

Then the polygon redraw.  Unroute (hide) the polygon by click on the polygon and then click

the button "Ripup". Redraw  again -> "Ratsnest".

Regards

Gerald

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Hi Gerald:

I might have another issue related to the software. When I pull down the layer window, I only see this. I purchased a Hobbist License (which is a Standard Edition) but looks like the PCB tool is running like a Lite version. I only have access to two (2) layers. When I type at the command line, LAYER 2, it replies back Layer 2 is not available! So that could have answered why I cannot create inner ground layers and why my previous attempts failed. They were created on layers 113, 114 and 115.

Regarding your reply; what if you wanted your pads around you mounting holes to have thermals and tied to ground?

On 7/09/2014 1:34 p.m., darryl tamura wrote:

Hi Gerald:

 

I might have another issue related to the software. When I pull down the

layer window, I only see this. I purchased a Hobbist License (which is a

Standard Edition) but looks like the PCB tool is running like a Lite

version. I only have access to two (2) layers. When I type at the

command line, LAYER 2, it replies back Layer 2 is not available! So that

could have answered why I cannot create inner ground layers and why my

previous attempts failed. They were created on layers 113, 114 and 115.

 

Have a read of the manual. It's in the DOC folder of your installation

The part of interest to you will be for the std license

A maximum number of 6 signal layers are allowed (Top, Route2,

Route3, Route14, Route15, Bottom).

These are the copper/signal  layers you can use.

The ones above 100 the you define will not behave like the copper layers.

To activate the layers 2,3 14, 15, 16  you have to define this in the

DRC. By default it defines a two layer board.

Again from the manual "The DISPLAY menu shows only those layers defined

in the Layer Setup of the Design Rules! "

HTH

Warren

Thanks Warren for you reply.

I eventually did find tidbits of info online, which lead to others until finally ... the manual.

And to make it difficult, the manual is not located from HELP but from the Eagle directory.

So I have been looking at the DRC menu for over a week, never realizing that to activate

your other layers, it is done here. Never bothered to look at the manual since I was looking

for a "Getting Started" pathway.

The frustration of it all...